Central Line–Associated Bloodstream Infections in Pediatrics: A Review

Central line–associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) are a common and significant health care–associated infection in hospitalized and nonhospitalized pediatric patients with central venous catheters. Interventions to prevent such infections have evolved over the last 2 decades, resulting in significant reductions in CLABSI rates through the development and implementation of evidence-based guidelines on prevention and management recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Healthcare Safety Network and pediatric infectious diseases and health care epidemiology professional societies. This review provides a detailed synopsis of CLABSIs in children, including the definition, pathogenesis, risk factors, prevention, and treatment principles.